Un joven errante

Capítulo 12

With a "thump," I passed out drunk again. Why am I always the one who gets drunk first...?

"Dad, you're here. Give me a cigarette, please." I let out a burp, reaching out to grab the blurry figure in front of me. "Let me have a smoke, let me clear my head. When I wake up, I can see you again...we—can be reunited...hehe..."

“He’s always the one who wants to drink, and he’s also the one who gets drunk first.” Sima Langxie’s lips softened.

Dan Yi smiled faintly, "Yes."

As usual, Sima Langya picked up the drunken, innocent-looking boy and took him to the inner room to settle him down. After a long while, he came out.

Danyi gazed intently at him, and silence spread between them.

"Brother, I'm leaving tomorrow," Danyi broke the silence.

Sima Langya seemed completely unsurprised, replying knowingly, "In any case, if you need my help, just ask..."

Dan Yi shook his head sadly, "Big brother, promise me you'll take good care of Xiao Jin. I don't know when I'll be back..."

Sima Langya remained calm. "Even if you don't tell me, I will."

The two remained silent for a moment, until Sima Langye got up to leave. Suddenly, Danyi murmured with a strange expression, "Brother, why did we fall in love at the same time..."

Then came a long sigh.

In the dark night, a dark figure suddenly appeared in the brightly lit room.

"Princess, the Third Prince wants you to return."

"Is it Uncle Wang's rebellion? I didn't expect him to act so quickly. It's time to clear away those obstacles that have been blocking our way in Yanjing for so long..."

"The eldest prince—" she hesitated, then stopped.

"What's wrong with the eldest prince? Tell me the truth." The woman's brows furrowed slightly.

"The eldest prince fled Yanjing and joined the Yuwen tribe—"

"Big brother, sigh—" The woman looked tired, as if she had aged a lot overnight.

Volume 1, Chapter 20: Jing Li

Looking at the gold and silver jewelry piled up all over the room, I expressionlessly told Yunying to have Xiaoqi find a way to transport them to Junjin Manor without anyone noticing, because that's where these things are most needed.

Is this compensation for Xie Weiying? I casually picked out a few items to examine closely, and they were truly generous! Each piece was priceless, enough for Xiao Qi to continue expanding her business. But is this all a woman's sacrifice in this era deserves? How laughable…

I planted a few hibiscus trees in the backyard. My hair was a little messy, and I'd tucked my skirt into my waistband. My face, hands, and cloth shoes were covered in specks of yellow mud. I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand and picked up my tools to head back. A casual glance revealed Huan Wen, as usual, leaning casually against the wall, giving me a nonchalant smile. I knew without a doubt he was there to freeload.

Sigh, it's been so long since Morton left. I wonder if he misses my cooking. And if he's listened to me and taken good care of himself...

Old man, your girl misses you.

The beautiful older sister has also left.

One by one, the people around me leave. Does this foreshadow my own departure...? Even though I have nowhere to go here, no home...

I looked at the garden full of spring colors, the lush flowers and plants, the vibrant hues, but I couldn't muster the energy to appreciate them. I glanced lazily at Huan Wen, then lowered my head and continued walking listlessly.

Seeing my weary expression and vacant eyes, Huan Wen leaped down and landed steadily in front of me. He took out a silk handkerchief from his robe and carefully wiped the mud from my face and the fine beads of sweat from my forehead. His expression was as earnest as if he were handling a rare treasure.

I stood there obediently, gazing intently at him.

The boy I grew up with has grown up without me even realizing it. He now has a broad back, mature features, and a resolute build… Although I've always been reluctant to admit it, he truly is the future Huan Wen, the ambitious and renowned strategist… While I know very little about the history of the Jin Dynasty, I do know those famous, spirited young heroes…

The young Huan Wen standing before me now is one I know.

I just wanted to pretend to be ignorant and live a simple, ordinary life, but the future is always beyond my control.

What General of Anxi, what Governor of Jingzhou... none of that matters to me...

Thinking of this, I smiled slightly at Huan Wen, and he smiled mischievously back. He was still the playboy Huan Wen. I don't know why he changed later, but I'm still grateful for his kindness to me over the years.

His brow furrowed slightly as he gripped the jade disc hidden in his sleeve. Even as his fingernails dug into his palm, he felt no pain…

She pursed her lower lip, her thoughts drifting back to the day she woke up from her drunken stupor—

"Hmm..." I groaned in discomfort. The hangover was so painful. I struggled to open my eyelids, which felt like they were glued shut, and saw the beautiful sister looking at me with a haggard face but a smile in her eyes, holding a delicate celadon bowl in her hand.

"Awake?" She came over and helped me sit up. "Your head must hurt. Here, have some hangover soup."

"Ouch, that hurts... Beautiful sister, you're so good to me!" I snuggled into her arms, still half asleep, unwilling to get out of bed.

She patiently waited for me to come to my senses, gently blowing on the water to warm it before feeding it to me, and I enjoyed it with my eyes closed.

After a long while, I finally struggled to get out of bed, stretched comfortably, and felt so refreshed to see the beautiful older sister every morning!

"Xiao Jin, take good care of yourself from now on. I... have to go." The beautiful older sister's soft voice suddenly came.

"Leave?!" I turned to look at her in astonishment. "Where are you going?"

She didn't answer, but chuckled softly and said, "Whether you believe it or not, Xiao Jin, I love you."

My face turned pale, my head buzzed, and I stood there dumbfounded. I managed a weak, feeble smile. "Beautiful sister, are you joking with Xiao Jin? Hmm, I've told you this joke so many times."

She flashed a beautiful smile, glancing at me with a questioning look. After a long while, she walked over and placed a kiss on my cold lips, whispering, "I don't care, I don't care about anything."

My heart clenched, and I gripped the hem of my clothes tightly, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill over. I said softly, "Sister, you can't like me, and I'm not good enough for you. You can like Big Brother, you can like any man in the world who is worthy of you, but you can't like me. In this world, I can't and won't like anyone."

I can't remember what else the beautiful sister said to me. I only remember that my mind was blank. I stared at her blankly and saw her sad and hopeless expression, as well as her indifferent and desolate aura spreading around me.

I stumbled away, the words of the beautiful woman still stubbornly echoing in my mind: "Jin, I know you are a woman. But I still love you. Today is the last time. Goodbye, Xiao Jin."

My descendants will return to this place and build a nation for you.

Her smile was as breathtaking as when we first met, radiant as the sunset, boundless and beautiful. Only a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye and landed in my palm, its intensity etching an indelible mark on my heart. That face, with tears in its eyes yet a smile blooming on its lips. Those withered eyes, brimming with infatuation, pity, longing, pain, and hope. It made me feel as if I had fallen into a maze, unable to escape.

I had no choice but to run away, even though I knew that after this separation, she and I would be worlds apart.

My favorite beautiful sister will also leave me.

With tears welling up in my eyes, I chuckled softly and said to her, "Sister, now that you're gone, there will never be anyone in this world who loved and cared for me like you did."

But, sister, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...

"Ying'er, what's wrong with you?"

"Huh?!" I looked at him, confused. "Brother Wen, what's wrong? Is the food not good?"

"Ying'er, have you been working too hard lately? Even with a handsome man like me around, you still get distracted."

I forced a smile and said, "It's alright, Brother Wen."

I picked up my chopsticks and piled food onto his plate, saying, "Eat more. This is your favorite green pepper and bamboo fungus dish. Salt and pepper shrimp. And a slow-cooked soup."

I lowered my head and murmured, "I may never be able to eat this again."

"What?" He looked up at me in confusion.

"Oh, oh, it's nothing, it's nothing. Eat quickly, or it'll get cold."

He put down his bowl, crossed his arms, and stared at me without saying a word: "Tell me, what's wrong? You've been absent-minded several times today. You're not like your usual self at all."

I looked up and gave him a bleak smile.

He covered my face with his hand in disgust, my smile. "Ying'er, don't smile. It looks awful forced." I couldn't see his expression, but I could smell the faint fragrance of his palm and feel the warmth that followed.

I took a deep breath and said, "Brother Wen, Ying'er may be away for a while. I hope you won't miss my cooking then, because I'm afraid I won't have time to cook for you."

His expression instantly darkened; it turned out I wasn't the only one pretending to be nonchalant.

“I heard about it. That day, An ran to the Red Flower Garden and cried all day. Ying’er, tell me, is this your choice?”

"Yes." I looked at him calmly.

"Well then, take good care of yourself. Eat, keep eating. You've prepared a very lavish meal today." He urged me to eat with a normal expression, but I could clearly see his hands trembling slightly.

"Brother Wen, I owe you. Please forget about Ying'er."

"You brat, what are you saying?" He leaned in and roughly ruffled my hair. "Who would like someone as flat as you? Let's eat."

Pengjulou.

The crowds were bustling, and those coming and going were all rich young men dressed in fine clothes, as well as elegant and refined young men.

"Brother Sima, I'm here."

I walked straight over, and only when I got closer did I notice that there was another man beside him, dressed in a light gray brocade robe, with delicate features and a pair of bright, black eyes, exuding elegance and poise.

A pair of dark, glassy eyes were now scrutinizing me with curiosity. Those eyes were so familiar. I racked my brain, and finally, I remembered—it was the man who had been observing me so closely when my third brother took me to the Red Flower Garden that day, just like he had been recently. I think his name was something like Director Wang. I composed myself; he definitely wouldn't know who I was. Calmly, I walked over and sat down next to Brother Sima.

"Xiao Jin, this is Director Wang. My dear friend. He insisted on coming with me to see your lovely younger brother today."

"Young Master An, I have long admired your name."

I looked at him indifferently and said calmly, "Likewise. Your esteemed name is known to everyone in Jiankang."

Upon meeting, I completely ignored Shen Qing and Director Wang's presence and kept rambling to Brother Sima about how the beautiful sister left without warning, and in the end I felt incredibly wronged.

To everyone's surprise, he simply replied, "My second sister has her own things to do, and she has no other choice."

I was furious. These people are truly cold and heartless.

A meal can feel bland and tasteless. Imagine someone being stared at by a man from beginning to end; even the most exquisite dishes would taste bland.

I could tell that Brother Sima admired him. I knew there was a famous historical figure named Wang Dao who eventually became a renowned prime minister. Could it be him?! Thinking this, I looked up at him in surprise, my mouth full of food. For a moment, I couldn't breathe and almost choked on my food. Luckily, someone kindly handed me a glass of water. I looked and saw it was my elder brother.

He smiled gently at me and said, "Slow down."

Unfortunately, I lost focus again.

I was completely bewildered during that meal, and it wasn't until I was leaving that Director Wang suddenly leaned close to my ear and said coolly, "Young Master An, I don't know why, but I always feel like you're like someone..."

I was stunned, and cold sweat broke out on my brow in an instant. But I still smiled faintly at him and said calmly, "Young Master Wang, you may have misjudged me. There has only ever been one An Jin."

Sima Langya smiled faintly and said, "My An Jin has always been unparalleled in the world."

I didn't notice that he was talking about my An Jin.

Director Wang's expression changed slightly.

Back to Qulan Garden.

I inexplicably found myself in the room where the Demon Child used to live. I lingered there for a long time, then sighed, feeling utterly bored. Turning to leave, I stepped on a piece of paper by the door; it seemed the Demon Child had scribbled something down and forgotten to throw it away. It had been on the table, but a cool breeze had blown it to the floor.

Picking up the paper from the ground, it read in bold letters: If love is destined, I will wait for you for a lifetime.

The tears that had been holding back for so long finally burst forth, streaming down my face like rain. My heart ached so much I was convulsing; I pressed my fingers to my chest, but I still couldn't stand… the pain was unbearable, I couldn't breathe…

Volume 1, Chapter 21: North to Back

"Brother, if you become emperor, I will give you all the wealth in the world."